Sky News found itself at the centre of controversy after airing a spoof segment featuring an actor portraying Prince Harry during his first day of testimony in London’s High Court.
Watch: Sky News’ Prince Harry actor sparks outrage
As cameras were not allowed in the courtroom, Sky News decided to recreate Prince Harry’s statements by having an actor deliver his words as part of a special program.
Unfortunately, the network’s approach failed to resonate positively with viewers, leaving many unimpressed with the execution.
Here are some of the reactions we picked:
PLEASE NOTE: The content is shared on our platform for journalistic purposes. Swisher Post, its parent company, partners and affiliates shall not be held liable for any consequence that arises from the journalistic duties performed in sharing this content.
Here’s a breakdown of Harry’s testimony on first day in court
In the actual court proceedings, Prince Harry, present in person, took to the witness box early and reportedly read from a prepared 55-page statement.
His testimony covered a range of topics, including allegations against the Daily Mirror, the first tabloid case being heard.
He addressed issues such as the invasion of his privacy, access to his voice messages before he could listen to them, and the negative impact of stories surrounding his parentage and mental health.
During his testimony, Prince Harry expressed his frustration with the tabloid press, stating,
“Despite the common misconception, I was no more than 5% funded by the taxpayer while I was a working Royal in the UK, yet it felt as though the tabloid press thought that they owned me absolutely, and deserved to know everything there is to know about me, my life, my movements, and the lives of those people who came into my orbit.”
He also singled out Piers Morgan, accusing him of involvement in the alleged spying and hacking activities during his time at the Daily Mirror.
Prince Harry further alleged that Morgan was responsible for recent attacks against him and his wife, Meghan Markle, in the Mirror.
One quote from Prince Harry’s testimony that drew attention was his question,
“How much more blood will stain their typing fingers before someone can put a stop to this madness?”
When questioned about this statement, he emphasised the pain and distress caused by certain editors and journalists.
The Mirror‘s attorneys attempted to undermine Prince Harry’s claims, suggesting that similar articles had already been written by other outlets and that the Mirror had merely followed the news cycle.
However, Prince Harry stood by his assertion that these specific pieces were produced illegally and had caused him significant distress.
The proceedings are expected to continue on Wednesday, 7 June 2023.